Corps Tactical Zone.
South Vietnam (SVN) was divided into four CTZs: I, II,
III and IV. Although Australia had military advisers
throughout SVN from I Corps to IV Corps, the main
Australian contingent was 1st Australian Task Force in
III Corps based in Phuoc Tuy Province to the southeast
of the capital Saigon. SVN forces and US troops operated
throughout the country.

1ATF:

1st
Australian Task Force:
had its self-contained defensive base at Nui Dat which
was a hill surrounded by an old rubber plantation. It
was quite a sizeable base about 2 x 3 kilometres. 1ATF
was approximately 5,000 men in strength, and was
commanded by a brigadier, who initially in 5RAR’s 2nd
tour was Brigadier C.M.I. (“Sandy”) Pearson. He was
replaced by Brigadier “Blackjack” Weir. In the first
tour it was Brigadier O.D. Jackson and Brigadier Graham.
1ATF consisted of three infantry battalions plus
supporting troops including armour, artillery,
engineers, signals, intelligence, light aircraft (fixed
wing and helicopters), and all the administrative
elements such as truck transport, mechanical repair,
field ambulance, pay, chaplains, canteens etc. It
contained two small airstrips and helicopter pads. 5RAR
was part of 1ATF.

ALSG:

Australian Logistics Support Group.
This was located at the port of Vung Tau where logistic
supplies from Australia were landed. There was a
military hospital (1st Australian Field Hospital which
was a bit more up-market than M*A*S*H on TV), major
mechanical repair facilities, a rest and recuperation
centre (with swimming pool and amenities), and major
administrative and logistic installations.

Infantry
battalion:

About 800 men commanded by a lieutenant colonel. It
consisted of a headquarters (BHQ), four rifle companies,
a Support Company (with mortars, trackers (men and
dogs), signals, assault pioneers and on the first tour:
a reconnaissance platoon), and finally an Administrative
Company (with stores, ammunition and equipment supplies,
as well as medical services and stretcher bearers).

Rifle
company:

Each consisted of about 120 men and was commanded by a
major. Each company consisted of a HQ, three rifle
platoons and a support section. There were at least two
radios at CHQ, one for communicating with the platoons
and one (on a different frequency) for communications to
Battalion HQ and to the other rifle companies. As well,
an artillery FO (Forward Observer) had a radio (on yet
another frequency) for directing artillery fire during
combat, and at times the company would have a Mortar
Fire Controller (MFC) with his radio on a separate
frequency.

Rifle
platoon:

A
rifle platoon consisted of 34 men: a platoon HQ of 4
plus 3 rifle sections of 10 each. At Pl HQ were the
platoon commander (a Lt or 2Lt), the platoon sergeant, a
batman and the radio operator. Each platoon had a radio
set for communicating to Company HQ and to the other two
platoons.

Rifle
section:

The rifle section was the smallest of sub-units in the
infantry organisation. The section consisted of 10 men,
commanded by a corporal, and had three distinct
groupings: the two scouts, the machine gunner and his
number 2, and the riflemen. There were three sections to
a platoon.

AATTV:

Australian Army Training Team - Vietnam.

AFV :

Australian Forces, Vietnam.

‘Albatross’

See Iroquois.

ALSG:

See Military Dispositions above.

ATF:

Australian Task Force.
See Military Dispositions above.

AO:

Area of Operations:
an area usually with a radius of up to 10-12 kilometres,
designated as the area exclusively set aside for a
specific period, for a unit such as a battalion.

APC:

M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers
(APCs) from 3rd Cavalry Regiment supported the infantry.
They were tracked vehicles with protective armoured
plating with a crew of 2 (commander and driver) and
capable of carrying 10 passengers (usually an infantry
rifle section). They were collectively referred to as
"tracks". Different from tanks.

ARA:

Australian Regular Army;
the 'Regular' or professional soldier.

ARVN:

Army of the Republic of South Vietnam.
These were the regular SVN government forces. We
occasionally combined with them on operations.

BN:

Battalion
(5RAR was an infantry battalion). See Military
Dispositions above.

‘Bushranger’:

The heavily-armed Iroquois helicopters called gunships
had the radio call sign of "Bushranger", and were armed
with rockets, twin rapid-firing Gatling style mini-guns
(with 6 rotating barrels), and twin-mounted M60 machine
guns on each side. The accuracy of the gunship fire
enabled them to engage the enemy even when the target
was just 10 metres from our own troops.

'buku':

A
word derived from French 'beaucoup', meaning plenty. The
Vietnamese often used this term and it was adopted by
the Yanks, Kiwis and Aussies.

Cavalry:

See APC.

'Charlie':

Phonetic alphabet for the letter "C". Also, the
colloquial term for the VC for which the phonetic
alphabet was "victor charlie".

Chieu Hoi:

Pronounced "chew hoy". The programme designed to get
the enemy to defect. These were also the words called
out by a surrendering VC. See Hoi Chanh.

Claymore:

Claymore Mine.
It was an anti-personnel directional explosive device,
which was remotely detonated via a long wire connecting
the blasting cap to a firing handle. The mine was about
30 cms wide, 15 cms high and 2 cms deep and slightly
convex in shape. It had two sets of folding steel legs,
which were pressed into the ground, so that the curved
side faced the likely enemy approach. When enemy came
within its effective range of about 50 metres (it could
cause casualties up to 200 metres) the remote firing
handle was pressed and the explosion occurred with
hundreds of small steel balls spewing forward in an arc
of about 60 degrees.

Central Office for South Vietnam
(senior echelon of the Vietnam Communist Party in South
Vietnam (SVN). COSVN was the Headquarters (HQ) of the VC
in SVN.

Coy:

Company.
See Military Dispositions above.

CP:

Command Post.
The Battalion CP was underground with overhead
protection (steel plating and filled sand bags) against
enemy mortar and Rocket Propelled Grenade explosions. It
had space for 10 to 12 persons to work at tables. Battle
maps, logs and communications equipment were used here.
It was located in the Fire Support Patrol Base (FSPB)
and was the command and control centre for the battalion
operation, including amongst other things, directing our
artillery and mortar fire.

'Crunchies':

Infantry soldiers.

CSM:

Company Sergeant-Major;
a warrant officer class 2 (WO2); the senior NCO in a
rifle company.

CTZ:

See Military Dispositions above.

DCM:

Distinguished Conduct Medal;
an Imperial gallantry medal; it was the second highest
award for valour in action (after the Victoria Cross)
for all army ranks below commissioned officers.

DFC:

Distinguished Flying Cross;
an Imperial decoration awarded to officers and warrant
officers for an act or acts of valour performed whilst
flying in operations against the enemy.

'Di Di
Mau':

Vietnamese for "go away", "get out", or "piss off".

DSO:

Distinguished Service Order;
an Imperial gallantry medal to reward officers who
exhibited individual instances of meritorious or
distinguished service in combat. It was usually awarded
for service under fire or under conditions equivalent
and generally given to officers in command, with the
rank of lieutenant colonel or above.

Duntroon

The location of the Royal Military College (RMC) in
Canberra. These officers graduated with the rank of
lieutenant after a four-year training course.

'Dustoff':

Casualty evacuation Iroquois helicopter fitted out with
medical evacuation equipment such as stretchers, Stokes
litters, winches, jungle 'penetrator', resuscitator and
medical supplies. 'Dustoff' was also the alert message
sent by radio from the unit requiring medical evacuation
of a wounded soldier.

'Doung
Loi':

Vietnamese for "halt!"

Enfilade
fire:

Raking fire along the length of a road or trenches or
firing at enemy from their flank, as distinct from
directly across it/them. Arranging weapons to fire in
enfilade along a road maximised the firepower so that
the rounds would have several chances of striking the
enemy who were following the line of the road.

Engineer
Splinter
(or Mini) Team:

Splinter Teams of two engineer Sappers (from the Corps
of the Royal Australian Engineers) were usually
allocated to each company and assisted the infantry in
detection and neutralisation of mines, booby traps and
tunnels. They were specially trained in demolitions and
mine warfare. They were highly-respected by the
infantrymen.

FAC:

Forward
Air Controller;
flying in a small fixed-wing aircraft whose radio call
sign was"Jade".

'Farter':

The soldier’s bed; usually a narrow pneumatic mattress,
with lightweight nylon-type blanket or "silk". The
inflated mattress would sometimes make a sound when you
turned over, thereby giving rise to the name.

Free Fire
Zone:

An
area where Vietnamese civilian access was prohibited,
such that any Vietnamese activity there was that of the
enemy.

FSPB:

Fire Support Patrol Base.
A FSPB (sometimes just called FSB) contained the command
and control centre in the Command Post (the CP). It also
provided the fire support for an operation in the form
of artillery and mortars. It was a defensive position
roughly circular in shape about 100-150 metres diameter,
so that it gave itself all-round protection. Soldiers
with machine guns and rifles operating from two-man
weapon pits, which had overhead protection (filled sand
bags), usually manned the perimeter. More centrally
located in the FSPB were the Command Post (also
underground with overhead protection against enemy
mortar and Rocket Propelled Grenade explosions) as well
as the artillery guns and mortars. A helipad enabled the
CO to use a small Bell Sioux helicopter ("Possum") for
aerial observation and battle control.

FUP:

Forming-up-Place;
an area suitable for an attacking force to spread out
into the formation to be used during an attack on the
enemy position. Preferably it was in 'dead' (concealed)
ground such as a re-entrant or gully from which the
attacking troops would begin the attack at 'H Hour'. The
Start Line was usually the forward edge of the FUP.

F4 Phantom:

American fighter-bomber regularly used in air strikes
against VC forces. Its top speed was 1,250 mph but it
could slow to 500, which enabled greater bombing
accuracy. It had a 6,000-pound payload.

'Goffer':

Can of soft drink. Naval slang adopted by troops on
board HMAS Sydney and used widely in Vietnam.

Grid
Square:

A
1,000 x 1,000 metre square on the military maps.

'Grunts':

Infantry soldiers.

Gunship:

See ‘Bushranger’.

H & I
Bombardments:

These occurred throughout the night at irregular times
and intervals and were directed at known or likely enemy
positions. The objective was to keep the enemy guessing,
awake, demoralised and disconcerted.

Ho Chi Minh
Sandals:

VC
foot-ware made from old tyres; they had a distinctive
tread, recognisable in the dirt.

Ho Chi Minh
trail:

A
network of roads and smaller trails extending from North
Vietnam through Cambodia and Laos, used by communist
insurgents for the infiltration of troops and logistic
supplies into South Vietnam.

Hoi Chanh:

VC
defector who had surrendered and then provided
information on the enemy, and acted as a guide to VC
locations. Also known as "Chieu Hoi", the words shouted
by a VC who was surrendering.

HQ:

Headquarters.

'Hootchie':

Lightweight one-man tent carried by Australian troops.

'Huey':

Iroquois helicopter, with name derived from the UH-IH
model nomenclature.

ICB:

Infantry Combat Badge;
the revered badge awarded to all infantrymen who have
served in combat. It is worn on the left chest of the
uniform immediately above medals.

Iroquois:

UH-1H model helicopters ("Huey"); troop and
stores-carrying choppers were given the radio nickname
of "Albatross". The heavily-armed Iroquois helicopters,
called gunships, had the radio call sign of
"Bushranger".

KIA:

Killed in action.

LZ:

Landing zone.
The area designated for helicopters to land and off-load
the infantry passengers or stores.

LCM:

Landing Craft Medium.
A flat-bottomed troop-carrying craft with a ramp for
beach landings.

MATT:

Military Assistance Team.
Australian liaison and training personnel (officers,
NCOs and Private soldiers) were temporarily stationed
with South Vietnamese military posts as part of the
Vietnamisation program designed to make the South
Vietnamese Army self proficient. The principal objective
was to instruct the local South Vietnamese Regional
Forces and Popular Forces (RF/PF) in aspects of infantry
minor tactics and in particular the siting, layout and
conduct of ambushes so as to protect themselves in the
event of an attack on their village by Viet Cong or
North Vietnamese Army forces.

MC:

Military Cross;
an Imperial award to reward commissioned officers for
distinguished, courageous and meritorious service in
combat.

Medcap:

Medical
Civil Aid Programme.

MFC:

Mortar Fire Controller;
a person, usually a corporal from the Mortar Platoon,
attached to a rifle platoon or company, to call in and
direct supporting mortar fire.

MG:

Machine gun.
They came in different sizes from 7.62 mm (used by the
infantry; see "M60"), to 30 calibre and 50 calibre
(heavier, and used from tanks and APCs).

MID:

Mentioned in Dispatches;
an Imperial award to officers and other rank soldiers
who were deserving of high praise for gallant action
against the enemy or who rendered distinguished service.

MPC:

Military Provisional Currency;
the currency issued by the US Army for allied use in
SVN. It was withdrawn and replaced without notice from
time to time, thereby catching out black marketeers.

MM:

Military Medal;
an Imperial award to NCOs and private soldiers for
individual or multiple acts of valour.

M60:

General Purpose Machine Gun
(GPMG). The M60 was the machine gun used by the
Australian infantry in Vietnam. It was capable of a much
higher rate and concentration of sustained fire than
ordinary rifles. There was one M60 per rifle section,
providing its main firepower, using link, belt-fed
rounds.

National Liberation Front.
A coalition of groups opposed to the South Vietnamese
government. It consisted of the political arm (the
Provisional Revolutionary Government, as part of the
Viet Cong Infrastructure) and the military arm (the VC),
and aimed at the "liberation" of South Vietnam.

NVA:

North Vietnamese Army.

OC:

Officer Commanding;(of
a rifle company).

'O' Group:

Orders to brief subordinate commanders about a
forthcoming operation or action such as an attack or an
airborne insertion into an area.

Pad:

A narrow
path (usually no more than 20 cms wide), similar to the
ones worn by animals such as those made by cows through
a paddock. "Pad" also referred to a helicopter landing
site.

PF:

Popular Forces.
These were South Vietnamese government territorial
troops, locally recruited to protect local villages.
They were of platoon size and were under the control of
village or district chiefs.

Pl:

Platoon.
See Military Dispositions.

Pogo:

Soldier further from combat action than the speaker. A
relative term, which could apply to a soldier in a rifle
section further away from the enemy than the forward
scout, but more commonly a description given by combat
soldiers about the logistics and administration staff.

Portsea:

The location of the Officer Cadet School (OCS) in
Victoria. These officers graduated with the rank of 2nd
Lieutenant after an 18 months training course.

'Possum':

Radio call-sign for the two-man Bell Sioux helicopter
(like a plastic bubble with a tail). This was regularly
used by the CO or his staff, such as myself, to observe
a battle from the air and to direct artillery, mortar,
helicopter gunship and strike fighter armaments onto the
targets.

PW:

Prisoner of war.
(Civilians usually refer to this as "POW".)

RAR:

Royal Australian Regiment.
All the Australian regular infantry battalions were part
of the RAR. Hence 5RAR was the 5th Battalion of the RAR.
During the Vietnam War there were a total of nine
battalions in the RAR (but no more than three at a time
in SVN).

R & C:

Rest and convalescence:
2 to 3 day periods of leave between operations, usually
at Vung Tau.

R & R:

Rest and Recuperation:
each Aussie soldier and officer had 5 days' leave during
his/her 12-month tour of duty. It could be in Australia,
Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok or Taipei.

'Recce':

Reconnaissance;
pronounced "reckie". The Americans called it "recon".

Re-entrant:

Gully or low ground between two spurs; it can be a
creek-line.

'Reg':

Regular or full-time soldier who had signed up for at
least 3 years.

RF:

Regional Forces.
These were South Vietnamese government territorial
troops, recruited within their province and with
provincial military responsibilities. They were of
company size and were under the control of the
provincial chief.

RPD:

NVA and VC machine gun that fired 7.62 mm rounds from a
100-round belt in a magazine. It was capable of laying
down sustained heavy fire.

RPG:

Rocket Propelled Grenade.
The VC used two types, the RPG2 and the larger RPG7.
They were rested on the shoulder for firing. The rocket
made an enormous explosion when it hit a target. The VC
used these very effectively in the jungle against us.
One hitting the trees above our heads would explode
shrapnel downwards on us causing many casualties. The
deafening explosion was also very demoralising.

RSM

Regimental Sergeant Major.
The RSM is the senior soldier within the battalion. His
responsibilities amongst other things, include: Advising
the CO on all matters affecting soldiers, including
military discipline. Traditionally, controlling the
regimental police. The RSM carries out many of his
duties through the CSMs. The day to day implementation
of the CO’s policy on discipline is implemented by the
RSM.

RTA:

Return to Australia.

RV:

Rendezvous:
a designated meeting place.

'Saddle
up':

Get your gear on; let’s get ready to move.

Scheyville:

The location (near Windsor NSW) of the Officer Training
Unit (OTU) for National Servicemen. These officers
graduated with the rank of 2nd lieutenant after an
intensive 6 months training course.

Short for "skipper", meaning "boss". Soldiers would
often relax formalities by calling an officer "skip"
instead of "sir".

Slick:

A
'slick' was an Iroquois helicopter configured for the
carriage of troops. A troop-carrying Iroquois helicopter
was given the radio call sign
'Albatross'.

Song:

Vietnamese for river, as in Song Rai.

Stokes
litter:

A
stretcher winched down from "Dustoff" ambulance
helicopters for evacuating wounded soldiers. The wounded
man was strapped into the litter and winched to the
helicopter either in a horizontal or vertical position.

'Stick
book':

A
fictional paperback book with a higher than usual
proportion of sexual content.

The Aussies used the 50-ton Centurion tanks belonging to
1st Armoured Regiment. Each had a crew of 4. They were
tracked and heavily protected with armour plating. Each
was capable of heavy firepower from its main 20-pounder
gun. The tanks usually operated as a troop of four.

Tet:

The Vietnamese annual celebration of the lunar New Year.

'Tracks':

See
APC.

'Uc Dai
Loi':

Vietnamese for "Australian".

VC:

Viet Cong:
the common name for the South Vietnamese Communist
guerrillas, called the People's Liberation Armed Forces
(PLAF), the fighting arm of the National Liberation
Front (NLF).

VCI:

Viet Cong Infrastructure.
The covert political arm of the communist forces in SVN
and included the NLF.

Vung Tau:

Or
"Vungers" as it was known was a large, busy town, which
had wide boulevards and buildings of French colonial
architecture. In French days it was a beautiful holiday
resort, called Cap Saint Jacques. Interestingly, Vung
Tau was reputed to be used by both Australian and Viet
Cong as an R & C (rest and convalescence) centre,
although you had little idea who was VC and who wasn’t.
As a result, there was little guerrilla activity in Vung
Tau. Vungers was located 30 km South of Nui Dat.

'White
Mice':

South Vietnamese police, dressed in white, vocal on the
whistle and with a reputation for shooting first and
asking questions later.

'Wakey':

A
wake-up; the day you departed for Australia. For
example, the expression "10 days and a wakey" meant that
it was 10 days and a wake-up before departing Vietnam
for Australia.